Can some-one please clear up Matt 15: 22-28.

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Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on September 15, 2010 at 5:07am

Hi Wicus.

I am going to give you my take on these passages.
Jesus was sent to the Jews first as was promised to the people of the old Testament. As he travels He meets this woman who wasn't a Jew. She is asking for healing for her daughter. Jesus tells her that he was sent to perform miracles for the Jewish people. He tells her it isn't right to give the blessings he has to give to the Jews to a non believer (a gentile). She tells Him that she has eaten the crumbs from His messages, in other words, she has heard of Him and she believes His message and believes in Him as a result. He marvels that even though she might not have heard His entire message, she believes on Him through what little she has heard. He marvels that her faith is so strong that she heard just a small bit and she believes while the Jews heard a great deal and yet didn't believe.

I hope this will point you in the right direction.
Blessings,
Rita

I am sure someone will come in with other words and explain it to you, perhaps more thoroughly than I.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on September 15, 2010 at 11:04am

Hey Wicus,
Here is the scripture..It always helps to have it printed out to refer to.. ;-)

Mat 15:22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."


Mat 15:23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting [fn] at us."


Mat 15:24 But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."


Mat 15:25 But she came and began [fn] to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"


Mat 15:26 And He answered and said, "It is not [fn] good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."


Mat 15:27 But she said, "Yes, Lord; [fn] but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."


Mat 15:28 Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed [fn] at once.


In addition to the other responses you have received here.. just a couple notes:

This women represents the gentile Nation. We as gentiles cannot claim the promises that have been given to Israel.

The women was unrighteous to recieve God's blessing on several counts:
1)she was a women (not much respect for women in those days)
2)She was not Jewish
3)She was a Gentile

She had shown herself to to be righteous by her faith. Initially she went about it in the wrong way.. She used His Jewish name: "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."

Jesus appears to have ignored her...but this is not so...Mat 15:23 But He did not answer her a word.
He is the Son of David....and she recoginized that, but she used the wrong name to address Him properly.......Jesus corrected her saying this "But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." He said this because the name 'Son of David' is for Israel to acknowledge...not for Gentiles.

She changed her address to HIm by calling Him 'Lord'.
Mat 15:25 But she came and began [fn] to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"

It was then that HE responded: Mat 15:26 And He answered and said, "It is not [fn] good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." I also believe that the Jewish people had already rejected Jesus as Messiah at this point. The rejected occured in Matthew chapter 12.
Because of that, He could not respond to the name 'Son of David'....
Matthew 13 Jesus begins speaking in parables because the Jewish nation had rejected Him as Messiah.
Jewish people did by custom refer to gentiles as 'dogs'.. clearly she was not offended and neither should we be.

She responded...having used His correct name, and by Faith, Knowing He is the Christ--Messiah and Savior!
Mat 15:27 But she said, "Yes, Lord; [fn] but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

Jesus responds by rewarding her for her faith and giving her daughter healing..
Mat 15:28 Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed [fn] at once.


Gentiles have been promised these Spiritual Blessings:
1)justification
2)sanctification
3)fellowship
4)indwelling of the Holy Spirit
5)Assurance of Salvation

Isaiah 42:1-7 Tells us that Jesus has been sent to us (The Gentiles as well as Israel)
Isa 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I [fn] uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the [fn] nations.


Isa 42:2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street.


Isa 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.


Isa 42:4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His [fn] law."


Isa 42:5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its [fn] offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,


Isa 42:6 "I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,


Isa 42:7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

This is a huge topic that goes very deep, as you study you will see how all scripture is interwoven and connected absolutely beautifully.. One of God's Masterpieces..

I hope this helps you a bit.
Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by journeyman on September 16, 2010 at 5:42pm

It is my belief that Jesus is testing the faith of the woman in this instance. The woman had heard of Jesus and believed in who he is. Here he is showing those who seek him in faith will be rewarded. Jesus is for all who seek him in faith. Believe and trust in his love.
your friend and Brother in Christ
journeyman

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